A report on www.thestreet.com says Panasonic wants to use its recent acquisition of Sanyo to become one of the big dogs in the solar market.
Archive for January, 2010
GE Lights & Powers New Cowboys Stadium
GE’s contribution to the largest NFL venue ever built, the Dallas Cowboys’ new billion-dollar stadium — a cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting and electrical distribution equipment—has satisfied the Texas-sized expectations of the Cowboys organization. For GE Appliances & Lighting, the charge was to go on offense, developing and delivering stadium lighting that provides uniform and maintained light across the field, while eliminating glare and shadows for fans in the stands and at home. (Photo by James Smith/Dallas Cowboys)
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Music with lightbulbs?
OK … Here’s video of an artist creating music using the sound various lamps make when they’re turned on and off. I’m guessing there’s an electrical distributor or a lighting rep out there somewhere with a better sense of rhythm who could teach this guy a few things, but you have to give him credit for trying it. And you have to give the audience credit for indulging him. Could be the start of something big.
Mead to lead Graybar in Phoenix, Harwood joins board
Graybar Electric, St. Louis, appointed Randy Harwood to its board of directors and named Craig Mead as district vice president for the company’s Phoenix regional operations. Both appointments resulted from the retirement of Bob Nowak, who served for more than 39 years with the company, most recently as district vice president in Phoenix and a member of Graybar’s board.
Harwood is currently district vice president in the Dallas region. In his 31-year Graybar career, he has advanced through several financial management roles in Portland, Ore., Spokane, Wash., Phoenix, Las Vegas and Seattle before being named to his current position in 2004.
Mead’s Graybar career spans 23 years, during which he managed the Albuquerque, N.M., El Paso, Texas, and Phoenix branches, and served as director of electrical sales within the Phoenix region.
Lighting Manufacturer Acquires Electrical Contractor/ESCO
Energy Focus Inc., Solon, Ohio, a lighting manufacturer, has acquired Stones Rivers Companies LLC (SRC), Nashville, Tenn., an electrical contractor with an energy service division from TLC Investments LLC, in a transaction valued at approximately $5 million. The acquisition was completed Dec. 31. Joseph Kaveski, CEO, Energy Focus, said, “SRC’s business is based on retrofitting lighting systems in existing public sector buildings. Given the large open order log SRC brings to Energy Focus, we expect to start out 2010 with a dramatic growth in our energy services business.”
Energy Focus, Inc. is a manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting products with a strong focus in government work. Its customers include the U.S. government, state and local governmental agencies, supermarket chains, retail stores, museums, theme parks and casinos, hotels and swimming pool builders. Stones River Electric specializes in energy management systems, energy conservation projects, lighting upgrades, maintenance contracts and electrical/lighting installation and maintenance. Details
EIS acquires Fay Wire
EIS Inc., a distributor of electrical insulation and other process materials used in the electrical original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and motor repair markets, announced that they have acquired the assets of Fay Electric Wire Corp., Elmhurst, Ill. Fay is a distributor of electrical process materials to OEMs and repair facilities. EIS, with 2008 sales of $466 million, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Co., which also owns Motion Industries.
Holder Named President of Eaton’s New Electrical Components Group
Eaton Corp. (Cleveland): Richard D. Holder has been named president of the newly formed Electrical Components Organization reporting to Jerry Whitaker, president – Americas Region, Eaton’s Electrical Sector. He will be located at the company’s Electrical Sector headquarters in Cherrington, Penn.
Holder joined Eaton in 2001 as vice president, Supply Chain and Operational Excellence in the company’s Electrical Group. He then became vice president and general manager of the group’s Power Distribution and Assemblies Division and most recently served as executive vice president – Eaton Business System. Prior to joining Eaton, Holder was director of Aircraft and Technical Purchasing for US Airways, director of Strategic Materials for Allied Signal, and held positions of increasing responsibility in supply chain and engineering at Parker Hannifin’s aerospace division in California. He earned a B.A.i n aviation management from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill., and a M.B.A. in business from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo.
GE to reorganize Consumer & Industrial
Several news organizations are reporting that GE plans to reorganize its Consumer & Industrial unit, based in Louisville, Ky., moving the industrial operations under GE Energy as part of a new Industrial Solutions group, and renaming the C&I division GE Appliance & Lighting. Jim Campbell, president and CEO of C&I, will continue to lead the Louisville-based operations, according to Jere Downs of the Louisville Courier-Journal.
GE sought to spin off or sell the Consumer & Industrial Division in recent years, but changed course last year to refocus its consumer products division on energy-efficient products.
Strikes on at two Chilean copper mines
IndustryWeek is relaying a story from Agence France Presse, reporting that workers at two copper mines in Chile have gone on strike. Miners at Codelco’s Chuquicamata and Mina Sur mines, which together account for about four percent of the world’s copper production, are calling for a 7.5 percent pay hike. Codelco is owned by the Chilean state, which produces around 1.6 million tons of copper per year and employs around 5,600 workers.
Ideal Industries Acquires Western Forge
Ideal Industries, Sycamore, Ill., has added to its hand-tool manufacturing capacity with the acquisition on New Years Eve of Western Forge, a tool manufacturer based in Colorado Springs, Colo. The company makes pliers, screwdrivers and adjustable wrenches at a 345,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Colorado Springs. The move adds to Ideal’s emphasis on “made in America” products and expands its tool offering in OEM and retail markets.
Randy Thompson, a 22-year Ideal veteran, will lead Western Forge as general manager.